January Newsletter 2018

TRAININGS

                                                                           Training in Mawlamyaing City, Mon State

Human Rights, Documentation of Human Rights Violations and Transitional Justice Training (Basic) in Kachin State
As a part of the series of regular Human Rights, Documentation of Human Rights Violations and Transitional Justice Training (Basic), the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) held two long trainings in the month of January. An 11-day Training from January 7-17 was organized in Mawlamyaing City, Mon State, and an 11-day training from January 17-27 was held in Putao City, Kachin State. In Mawlamyaing City, the Training was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer, Ma Zun Pang, and Human Rights, Human Rights Documentation, and Transitional Justice Trainer, Ko Sai Myint Thu. A total of 34 people including 15 females and 19 males participated in the training. Participants are members of organizations including Mon State CSO Network, National League for Democracy (NLD), and Mon Youth Group. They are from Mon, Burmese, and Karen backgrounds.
This region had faced issues with land confiscation and faces health problems due to the rock mine production and trafficking due to lack of job opportunities.

                                                                                                   Training in Kachin State

In Putao City, the Trainings were administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer, Ko Nay Wunn, and Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice Trainer, Ko Kyaw Oo. A total of 23 people including ten females and 13 males participated in the training. Participants are members of Religious Group, Civil Society Organization, Child Care and Women Organizations, and civilians. They are from Lisu, Rawang, Kachin, and Shan (Khanti) backgrounds. Social, education a These training served as a capacity building measures, aiming to encourage and inform their participants in the democratic setup.

These training served as a capacity building measures, aiming to encourage and inform their participants in the democratic setup.

Human Rights and Good Governance Discussion

                                                       Ko Bo Kyi speaking at the Human Rights and Good Governance Awareness

On January 31, AAPP held a discussion about human rights and good governance for village and ward administrators at Thanatpin Township, Bago Division, from 10am to 4pm. Thanatpin Township Administrator, U Than Naing, gave an opening speech and AAPP’s Joint Secretary, U Bo Kyi, explained the purpose of the discussion. Next, U Saw Than Hlaing addressed issues on human rights awareness, including the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). U Ye Aung spoke about good governance. There was a total of 120 people in attendance, including staff of the Thanatpin Township General Administrative Department and Ward Administrators.  Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, Ko Wanna Nwe, Ko Kyaw Oo, Ko Myo Tun, Ko Zaw Moe, Ko Khin Maung Win, and Ko Tint Htoo Lwin from AAPP and Ko Bo Tauk from Eastern Bago Former Political Prisoners Group were involved in helping to facilitate the event. At the end of discussion, AAPP distributed UDHR pamphlets and posters to raise awareness amongst the participants

MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MHAP)

Counseling Services for Clients
Every Saturday and Sunday in January, three female counselors went to the Women’s Vocational Training Centre in Yangon. In January, three clients completed their counseling sessions. A further eight clients are continuing to receive counseling.
A female supervisor and five female counselors went to the Women Development Centre in Yangon to provide mental health counseling services. In January, three clients completed their counseling sessions and another ten clients are continued their sessions.
Every Monday in January six Counselors went to Hnget Aw Sann Youth Training Centre (a Juvenile Prison) to provide CETA mental health counseling services. In January, 11 clients are continuing their counseling sessions and another 12 clients started their counseling session. In January three counselors met with ten females and ten male Burmese Migrants to deliver mental health assistance. In January, three females and seven male Burmese migrant clients finished their counseling.

Download link for January Newsletter